{ types: { "Public garden" : { pluralLabel: "Public gardens" } }, "items" : [ { "venue_id" : "6056", "label" : "Como Ordway Memorial Japanese Garden", "type" : "Public garden", "venue_address" : "1325 Aida Place", "venue_city" : "St. Paul", "venue_phone" : "651-487-8200", "venue_desc" : "The design for this 1-acre garden was a gift from the people of Nagasaki, Japan to its sister city, St. Paul. The traditional Japanese garden (next to Como Park Conservatory) features pagoda dogwoods, Korean lilacs and Japanese yews arranged around a waterfall and a large pond. Foliage plants set off carved stone lanterns, bamboo gates and a traditional tea house, where ceremonies are performed. $1 for adults, 50 cents for seniors and youth.", "venue_category_array" : [ "Public gardens" ], "latLng" : "44.9801302,-93.1522161", "venue_url" : "http:\/\/www.vita.mn\/venue_detail.php?venue_id=6056" }, { "venue_id" : "2244", "label" : "Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary", "type" : "Public garden", "venue_address" : "1339 Theodore Wirth Pkwy.", "venue_city" : "Minneapolis", "venue_phone" : "612-370-4900", "venue_desc" : "The 13-acre site features more than 500 different plants in a natural setting. Woodchip pathways wind through three distinct habitats: bog, woodlands and upland prairie. Many of the plants in this garden, the oldest public wildflower garden in the U.S., are identified with signage. Leaflets at the front gate offer plant and bird checklists. The nearby Quaking Bog features 200 mature tamaracks on a moat-surrounded island carpeted with sphagnum moss. Free.\r\n1339 Theodore Wirth Parkway, Minneapolis, 612-370-4900", "venue_category_array" : [ "Public gardens" ], "latLng" : "44.977826,-93.326085", "venue_url" : "http:\/\/www.vita.mn\/venue_detail.php?venue_id=2244" }, { "venue_id" : "2140", "label" : "Lyndale Park Gardens", "type" : "Public garden", "venue_address" : "3900 Bryant Av., S.", "venue_city" : "Minneapolis", "venue_phone" : "612-370-4900", "venue_desc" : "One of the most popular gardens in the Twin Cities, the 61 acre area (officially known as Lyndale Park) includes the 100-year-old Rose Garden, the Peace Garden, the Annual and Perennial Display Garden and the Perennial Trial garden. The formal Rose Garden showcases 3,000 roses. The display garden has two perennial borders that flank six annual beds. The Japanese-inspired Peace Garden (also known as the rock garden) features as a dry creek bed, a zigzag footbridge, peace memorials and rock-loving plants and groundcovers. The trial garden, which meanders along the woods, contains plants being tested for hardiness, disease resistance and overall performance. Free.", "venue_category_array" : [ "Public gardens" ], "latLng" : "44.927023,-93.298504", "venue_url" : "http:\/\/www.vita.mn\/venue_detail.php?venue_id=2140" }, { "venue_id" : "1772", "label" : "Minnehaha Park", "type" : "Public garden", "venue_address" : "Godfrey Rd. and Minnehaha Av.", "venue_city" : "Minneapolis", "venue_phone" : "612 230-6400", "venue_desc" : "This large, urban park includes three distinct gardens: Longfellow Garden, Pergola Garden and the Song of Hiawatha Garden, all of which are popular for wedding and other events. Longfellow Gardens features a pergola and sun dial as well as views of the Minneapolis skyline. The Pergola Garden (across from the Princess Depot) features native wildflowers and grasses. In view of the falls, The Song of Hiawatha Garden has a Tuscan-style fountain surrounded by annuals, perennials, ornamental grasses and shrub roses. A stone wall inscribed with portions of Longfellows poem surrounds the garden.", "venue_category_array" : [ "Public gardens" ], "latLng" : "44.916642,-93.213026", "venue_url" : "http:\/\/www.vita.mn\/venue_detail.php?venue_id=1772" }, { "venue_id" : "287", "label" : "Minnesota Landscape Arboretum", "type" : "Public garden", "venue_address" : "3675 Arboretum Dr.", "venue_city" : "Chaska", "venue_phone" : "952-443-1400", "venue_desc" : "The largest public garden in the Midwest boasts more than 1,000 acres and 42 plant collections, including a rose garden, hosta glade, rock garden, herb garden, sensory garden and home demonstration gardens. The popular Three Mile Drive passes through collections of trees, shrubs and ornamental grasses. Theres also 7 miles of walking trails through prairies, bogs and forests. $7 for ages 16 and up; free for members and children 15 and under. Also free Thursdays November-April 24 and after \r\nafter 4:30 p.m. April 25-October.", "venue_category_array" : [ "Public gardens" ], "latLng" : "44.864493,-93.617972", "venue_url" : "http:\/\/www.vita.mn\/venue_detail.php?venue_id=287" }, { "venue_id" : "719", "label" : "Noerenberg Gardens", "type" : "Public garden", "venue_address" : "2840 North Shore Dr.", "venue_city" : "Orono", "venue_phone" : "763-559-6700", "venue_desc" : "On the shores of Lake Minnetonka, the expertly tended garden features an eclectic display of annual, perennials, shrubs, trees and ornamental grasses connected by wide brick pathways. While attractive all year, the garden really shines from late summer into fall. Special collections include daylilies and azaleas. In addition to the original estate boathouse, theres also an ornamental gazebo overlooking the lake.", "venue_category_array" : [ "Public gardens" ], "latLng" : "44.955964,-93.597859", "venue_url" : "http:\/\/www.vita.mn\/venue_detail.php?venue_id=719" }, { "venue_id" : "3664", "label" : "Normandale Japanese Garden", "type" : "Public garden", "venue_address" : "9700 France Av. S.", "venue_city" : "Bloomington", "venue_phone" : "952-487-8145", "venue_desc" : "On the grounds of Normandale Community College, this 2-acre garden features more than 300 plants, shrubs, and trees in a traditional arrangement with rocks, plants and water, including a waterfall and a large lagoon. There also are several Japanese bridges and several large stone lanterns. Free.", "venue_category_array" : [ "Public gardens" ], "latLng" : "44.829305,-93.329473", "venue_url" : "http:\/\/www.vita.mn\/venue_detail.php?venue_id=3664" }, { "venue_id" : "4791", "label" : "University of Minnesota Display and Trial Gardens", "type" : "Public garden", "venue_address" : "1552 Gortner Av.", "venue_city" : "St. Paul", "venue_phone" : "612-624-5300", "venue_desc" : "Tended by the universitys Department of Horitcultural Science, this small, scenic garden is an outdoor lab for students. It features annuals, vegetables, perennials, shrubs and trees. Woodchip trails lead to patios, arbors and trellises and pergola. Theres also a restored prairie area.", "venue_category_array" : [ "Public gardens" ], "latLng" : "44.987842,-93.181976", "venue_url" : "http:\/\/www.vita.mn\/venue_detail.php?venue_id=4791" } ], "properties" : { "venue_id" : { "valueType" : "number" } } }